5 Ways to Detect Gas Leaks in Your Home

Whether you have a new home you've just moved into, or an old one that is need of repair, gas leaks can create a hazard and even deadly situation for you and whoever resides there.

Of all gases that pose an issue in your home, carbon monoxide (or CO) is one of the most common and deadly silent killers known today. In this post, I'll briefly go over 5 ways you can easily detect gas in your home, and not just for CO either.

1. Your Own Nose

If you even remotely think that there is a leak from gas, you can start by simply following your nose! I like to say that any stove, furnace, or fireplace that has gas lines will only be as strong as their weakest points.

That's why you should never second guess yourself whenever you are first inspecting anything in your home that emits gas, be it a basement furnace or wall mounted gas-fed heater.

If you are ever unsure with any appliance or heating/air system not working properly, always consult a licensed repairman or HVAC specialist in your area who can assist. Failure to fix the issue can lead to prolonged problems, especially if the leak is carbon monoxide or CO.

Since CO can emit an odorless gas, this can be deadly at night whenever anyone is sleeping. To remedy this situation, you can definitely use the 2nd item I'll mention.

2. Install a CO Detector

As mentioned earlier, carbon monoxide or CO is one of the leading causes of gas poisoning inside your home. Almost every state and local area REQUIRES you to have a CO detector in your home, and at minimum in every living area.

Always check with any local codes from the fire department in your area to see where specifically you'll need to place them. As a general guide, our manufacturer of CO detectors Kidde has a great illustration below that demonstrates the importance of these life-saving alarms.

Be sure to refer to the link above in the image to read up on more about protecting yourself and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. If you are unsure where the potential sources of CO can emanate, refer to this handy reference below.

Lastly, be mindful that CO detectors come in many forms and are available for purchase today at your local Home Depot store. Even if you can't or don't have the capability to hardwire any, there are still plug-in and battery operated versions that can work.

In fact, for the next item I'll go over, is a ramped-up version of a basic CO detector.

3. Install a CO/Explosive Gas Detector

This product is one of the best things we sell today that detects all sorts of gases that could be fatal to whoever is in your home. It simply plugs in, and is easy to operate. It's by Kidde and the link for it can be found by clicking here.

Since it monitors the actual levels of CO (if any) in your home as well as other gases, like methane or natural gas, it's really a go-to product for any living space in your home to give yourself added peace of mind.

Of course, one huge factor in gas leaks is prevention. And one way you can do this is by using the next product listed and shown below.

4. Using an Electronic Gas Leak Detector

This product is just as handy as any permanent alarm you'll place in your home. Since it's hand-held, you can place it in tight areas like in furnace areas that may not be easy to see.

In fact, this is really a must-have item if you are ever doing general maintenance on any HVAC system.

The alarm works by detecting all types of gases, not just CO. So it makes it effective for anything as varied as propane tanks to generators to ensure you and your family are safe.

One final product I haven't discussed, I will talk about now, which can be just as deadly if left unchecked.

5. Using a Radon Gas Detection Kit

As you may or may not know, radon gas can be a deadly killer literally from the ground up. Radon gas typically penetrates from the floor of your home via the foundation, and is odorless and can create health problems if left alone.

Luckily, this kit can be used to detect it and by using it properly, you'll find out easily how much or if any radon gas is present in your home.

These are just several options you can choose from in this post to protect you and your family from gas leaks and potential hazardous health effects.

If you are ever unsure about any gas leaks or faulty equipment in your home that uses gas, please contact your local gas provider as well as a trained technician in your area that can remedy this problem.

For your health of whomever is living in your home, it could also mean a difference between life and death in some cases.

Let us know if you have any further questions on gas leaks or any home improvement topics you may have.

Not to quibble Joseph but carbon monoxide is the by-product of incomplete combustion not a "leak" per se and accumulates in homes as result of a something like a furnace malfunction or a blocked flue. A CO detector is essential in homes that use natural gas, propane, or fuel oil for heat or hot water. They serve no purpose in all electric homes.

While leak detectors might be useful for troubleshooting, regulations require that natural gas and propane be "odorized" (stink) so that the average person can smell a leak at roughly 1/5 the minimum concentration required for an explosion. If you smell "gas" get out and let the pros handle it.

Radon also doesn't leak but depending on where you live, it is important to test for it's presence because it can cause lung cancer.